Crews Focus On Stopping Northerly Spread Of Ferguson Fire

YOSEMITE – Firefighters on the Ferguson Fire continue to focus their efforts on stopping the spread north into Yosemite Valley.

The fire is now estimated 95,544 acres with 80 percent containment.

The active part of the fire is now entirely within Yosemite National Park and the critical fight remains on the finger of fire reaching north near the confluence of Big Oak Flat Road and Highways 140 and 41.

Crews are taking advantage of higher relative humidity and favorable winds during the nighttime hours to conduct firing operations inside the triangle created by Grouse Creek, Highway 41 and Highway 140. The firing is done at night when there are down-slope winds to draw the fire and the smoke down into the canyon.

This operation is expected to take two or three days to complete, say fire officials. Night and day resources are focused on this operation. Progression will be slow and deliberate, when safe, due to the extremely dry vegetation and potential for spotting into the Grouse Creek drainage. Aerial support from helicopters will assist firefighters on the ground to cool things down and reduce the risk of fire spotting across the fire line.

The other priority is the fire burning north and south of the Glacier Point Road. With the lighter fuel loads there due to recent fires, crews are able to attack the fire directly and have been constructing and strengthening lines with good success. They are also putting hose lays along those lines and have begun doing mop-up.

There is no word yet on when closed portions of Yosemite National Park will reopen. There is still fire along the roads and dangerous fire-weakened trees continue to pose a hazard to both firefighters and the public. Park officials are evaluating conditions on a day-to-day basis and crews are working as quickly as possible to mitigate any hazards.

Suppression repair efforts are ongoing in many portions of the fire. This includes using heavy equipment to build water bars and berms, and bring in vegetation to repair any damage done during suppression activity.

Mop-up continues around Yosemite West and along Highway 41 south to Wawona. All lines are holding well.

The southern and western perimeters of the fire are in patrol status, and suppression repair work is underway.

The number of personnel assigned to the incident has dropped to 1,532, which includes 104 engines, 14 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 17 crews, 5 masticators and 20 dozers. Some personnel are being sent to other fires across the state while others are being released for mandatory R&R after a tough assignment.

The Ferguson Fire started on Friday, July 13, at 8:30 p.m., near Savage Trading Post on the south side of the Merced River canyon along Highway 140. The cause remains under investigation.

The estimated date for full containment is Aug. 15.

Ten structures have been destroyed by the Ferguson Fire. Damage assessment teams have been able to get into some of the burn areas of the fire, and report that most of the 10 structures reported lost were in the Ned Gulch area on the north end of the fire. According to locals, these were historic mining operation structures that were being restored and used weekly for various types of outings and expeditions.

There have been 14 firefighter injuries reported, and numerous instances of heat exhaustion-type symptoms. There have been two fatalities on the fire; HFEO Braden Varney was killed in a dozer rollover accident on July 14, and Brian Hughes, Arrowhead Hotshot Captain, lost his life on July 29 when he was struck by a tree during a firing operation.

The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and the Wawona Road (Highway 41) from the south entrance of Yosemite National Park to Tunnel View will remain closed until further notice.

The Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 West) to Crane Flat has been reopened. Tioga Road (Highway 120 East) from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass, remains open to all visitors and vehicles. All trails and campgrounds along Tioga Road, including the Tuolumne Meadows Campground remain open. All visitor services along Tioga Road, including the High Sierra Camps and visitor services near Tuolumne Meadows, remain open.

Residents of Yosemite Valley were allowed to return home on Wednesday, Aug. 8. Yosemite Valley has been closed to the public since July 25, however Yosemite National Park remains open along Highway 120 which provides access to the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, the Pacific Crest and John Muir trails.

Yosemite National Park is working closely with the Incident Management Team and continues to assess park conditions daily.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has also warned that a health caution is in place and smoke impacts will continue until the fire is extinguished.

Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and fine, microscopic particles that can cause health problems including triggering asthma attacks, aggravating chronic heart and lung diseases, and increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Where conditions warrant, people with heart or lung disease should follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with episodes of particulate exposure. People with existing respiratory conditions, young children and elderly people are especially susceptible to the health effects from these pollutants. Anyone being exposed to poor air quality or wildfire smoke should move inside to an air-conditioned environment.

Residents can check the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s wildfire page at www.valleyair.org/wildfires for information about any current wildfires and whether they are impacting the Valley. The District’s Real-time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) provides localized air quality data from an extensive air-monitoring network which allows Valley residents to track PM at any Valley address by visiting myraan.com.

General Information

If community members see new fire activity, they are asked to call 911, not the fire information line.

As of July 21, there are fire restrictions in place on the Sierra National Forest. Please read and be informed before you use any type of fire in the forest.

The Incident Command Post for the Ferguson Fire is located at the Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park. Please be aware of heavy fire equipment moving through the area. There is also a base camp set up on the Stanislaus National Forest. Personnel at the fire camp at Badger Pass have been relocated to the ICP in Ahwahnee due to active fire in the area.

Cal Fire exited Unified Command as of 6 a.m., Thursday, July 26, because of reduced threats to state and private lands. Cal Fire remains committed to the Ferguson Incident as an assisting agency. California Interagency Incident Management Team 3, led by Incident Commander Mark von Tillow, assumed management of the Ferguson Fire as of 6 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, transitioning in for California Team 4, which had be managing the fire since July 19.

For information about the fire please call 530-377-6221.

Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken has signed a forest order closing several Groveland Ranger District roads and trails impacted by the Ferguson Fire. This closure is based on the current and expected fire behavior and will be in effect until Sept. 30, or until replaced or rescinded. Click here for details and a map of the closure.

Be sure you are signed up to receive alerts when wildfire or other emergencies threaten.

Highway 41 from the south gate of Yosemite to Wawona and Yosemite West is open to residents only

General information on returning to previously evacuated areas:

Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office will have a heavy presence in the area to ensure the security and safety of residents and businesses.

There will still be smoke in the respective areas as firefighters continue firefighting operations. If at any time you feel unsafe, please call 911.

For questions or concerns regarding power, please contact PG&E at 800-743-5000 or visit their website at www.pge.com.

The Mariposa County Health Department has health and safety information for residents returning to their homes on their website at http://www.mariposacounty.org/health or call 209-966-3689.

Mariposa County Health and Human Services will be available to assist residents with gaining additional services. Additional information regarding these and other services is available at www.mariposacountyrecovers.org.

SAFETY MESSAGE – The public is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions. Please continue to adhere to road closures and any evacuation warnings. If you see electrical wires on the ground, stay clear and contact PG&E immediately. Trees and poles with deep charring, particularly if still smoking, should be considered hazardous. Please drive slowly and yield to emergency personnel in the area. As you re-enter your property and evaluate damage, be aware that hazardous conditions may exist, particularly if a residence or out-building has burned. Hazards may include asbestos, heavy metals, by-products of plastic combustion and various other chemicals. We encourage the public to remain prepared year-round for wildfires by visiting the www.readyforwildfire.org website. The best show of support is having your home and property “fire-ready.”